Dawn French's celebrity impression sends fans over the edge

Dawn French attends the "Oklahoma!" West End opening night at the Wyndham's Theatre on February 28, 2023 in London, England.

(Image credit: Joe Maher/Getty Images)

published 10 March 2023

Dawn French's celebrity impression is so accurate and might even beat that one time she imitated Catherine Zeta-Jones. The star shared an Instagram post dressed up alongside the much-loved TV presenter and it's uncanny!

Just when you thought Dawn French's 'new boyfriend' broke the internet - her latest post, mimicking Claudia Winkleman, has sent fans wild.

It looks like TV legend, royal relative, and Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia is in on the joke as the two are photographed together. Dawn French's grey hairstyle is obscured with a dark wig, her face with lashings of the best instant tan, and Claudia's signature heavy eyeliner.

A post shared by Dawn French (@dawnrfrench)
A photo posted by on

It appears that Dawn French's celebrity impression is in aid of Red Nose Day, which will air on March 17, as she captioned her post, "coming soon…#traitors #comicrelief."

"Amazing. I can't believe the likeness," commented one fan.

Claudia also shared the image on her own Instagram account with the comment, "can I just add I will never get over this. Dawn is my hero."

In response, Dawn commented, "I love you. Deal with it x."

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, on the set of Comic Relief's 'Mamma Mia' sketch for Red Nose Day 2009, on 26 February, 2009 in London.

Claudia is related, by marriage, to the Royal Family. Her half-sister Sophie Winkleman, aka Lady Frederick Windsor, is a member of The Firm's inner circle and was recently revealed to be the Royal Family member in Belgravia Season 2.

This poses the question - did Dawn mention her particularly awkward run-in with Claudia's distant relative King Charles? The Daily Star reported ack in February 2022, while appearing on The Graham Norton Show, the comedian discussed the rather iffy moment when one was not amused by her cheeky innuendo.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, meets actors Dawn French, Ray Winstone and other cast members at the Royal Film Performance and World Premiere of "The Chronicles Of Narnia" at the Royal Albert Hall on December 7, 2005 in London, England. The new big screen adaptation of C S Lewis' The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe is held in aid of The Cinema And Television Benevolent Fund.

"I played Mr and Mrs Beaver in the Narnia films, and there was a big premiere at the Royal Albert Hall with Prince Charles," recounted the star. "He came up the row and began meeting us all and there's a picture of me meeting him, like 'ooooh.'"

"And in fact, he was asking me what I did in the film and I said 'tonight your royal highness, you will see my beaver," she explained as the audience howled with laughter.

"I just smiled at him and he sort of twinkled at me and then moved on very very quickly like there was a bad smell..."

In this image released on March 15, 2022, Dame Judy Dench and Finty Williams with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders during the Repair Shop special for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day 2022 on February 23,2022 in London,England. The Repair Shop welcomes some very special guests into the barn. Desperate to get on TV and to meet Jay Blades, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reprise their characters "The Extras" to blag a free fix from the team. Starring some surprise extra special guests.

This may have been decidedly un-royal behavior but what more would we expect from one of the UK's most beloved funny women? As a star of international renown, Dawn has partaken in many skits with her comedy partner Jennifer Saunders as well as on her own.

Throughout her career, Dawn has played real-life stars and characters including Harry Potter, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, and a pretty unforgettable Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Dawn French poses in the Press Room during "Comic Aid", a comedy night with proceeds going to the Disasters Emergency Committee to raise funds for the Asian tsunami and earthquake appeal, at the Carling Apollo Hammersmith on February 22, 2005 in London.

Many of these skits featured in French and Saunders, a BBC series that ran from 1987 to 2017, but some of the most notable examples featured in the annual charity event Red Nose Day, in aid of Comic Relief.

The event sees stars be 'funny for money' and was founded in 1985 by the legendary rom-com writer and director Richard Curtis and Dawn's ex-husband, comedian Lenny Henry.

Even after the dissolution of their marriage - Dawn still remains a stalwart of the TV fundraiser and, following this sneak peek, it looks like this year will be an absolute riot.

British actresses Jennifer Saunders (left) and Dawn French (right), wearing Red Nose Day 2015 noses and costumes from the Comic Relief special, The Bishop of Dibley. In the studio, on 8 January, 2015 in London.

Red Nose Day 2023, a live three-hour fundraising TV spectacular, will air on March 17, 2023, beginning at 7pm GMT, on BBC One and iPlayer. Although it's only available to viewers based in the UK - but there is a way around it. If you download a VPN to your device, you'll be able to access BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK and watch the unmissable show.

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Once you've installed your VPN, open the app and select your server location as anywhere in the UK.
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Aoife is an Irish journalist and writer with a background in creative writing, comedy, and TV production.

Formerly woman&home's junior news editor and a contributing writer at Bustle, her words can be found in the Metro, Huffpost, Delicious, Imperica and EVOKE.

Her poetry features in the Queer Life, Queer Love anthology.

Outside of work you might bump into her at a garden center, charity shop, yoga studio, lifting heavy weights, or (most likely) supping/eating some sort of delicious drink/meal.